98/365 - Les Miserables, the Musical or Les Miserables, the Opera?

I first saw Les Miserables in college - I won't tell you when that was in proximity to the opening of the musical that is now its 27th production year - the second longest-running musical in the world. I had the opportunity to revisit this show again last night with my beau and his daughter, both of whom were seeing Les Mis for the first time. On our way home, as we bandied about the show's many merits and its fewer though obvious weaknesses, we ended up taking a more introspective look at the show's continued popularity among the general public.

Wikipedia tells us that critical reviews of the London opening of Les Mis were negative, and "literary scholars condemned the project for converting classic literature into a mere musical." Public opinion offered an entirely different response - and continues to do so.

I would bet that one of the reasons Les Mis is so appealing to the masses is that it bridges the gap between "mere musical" and the less accessible, oft-perceived lofty art form, opera. A guy might be classified among his peers as "cultured" if he loves Les Mis, whereas being a fan of Carousel or A Chorus Line could very well put his sexuality in question. Just as an example, of course. And one can be cultured without having to sit through, oh say, Wagner's 18-hour Ring Cycle. Just as an example, of course.

I would also purport this is why Les Mis annoys the critics and professionals in both camps - Its dramatic story and operatic qualities deign it to be more than a musical, but opera doesn't want to claim it for its "mere musical" attributes either. If you take away what Les Mis might or might not be trying to be, it holds tremendous value it for what it is - an impressive artistic endeavor to portray the triumph of the human spirit and the timeless power of redemption and love. You don't have to be in one camp or the other to appreciate that.